Parking meters across Ballarat are now fully activated, including around the bustling hospital precinct. Ballarat Health Services chief executive Dale Fraser said the hospital had been working closely with the City of Ballarat during the consultation phase. He said several changes from the initial plan had been welcomed, including adding more meters that accept coins - on council's map of parking meters, as of Monday evening, there are two coin and card meters on either side of Drummond Street in front of BHS and St John of God, with others on Mair Street closer to Ascot Street, and on either side of Sturt Street. "I would encourage them to continue that sort of listening and resolve issues as they arrive," Mr Fraser said. "The average person here, the first priority here is not finding a car park. "That's a challenge we're continuing to raise back with council, and I'm confident that they, through those processes, will take on-board that feedback and we'll see more changes over time." BHS management was also listening to concerns from staff, he added, who may be parking further away from the hospital. "We've put a number of things into place - during the mid-part of the day, we artificially block off a number of places in our car park out the back here to cater for late-shift staff, so they have close access to the car park, and staff can request security escorts to their cars" he said - there will also be more car parks as part of the hospital's $461 million upgrade. "One would hope, with the (parking meter) revenue (council) is raising, it'll go back into infrastructure like footpaths and lighting, more amenity," he said. Among the changes on their way will be more meters that accept coin, following council's decision to make the Eastwood Street car park free for two hours. READ MORE: Council backflips on Eastwood Street carpark, restores free two-hour parks The five meters installed there will be moved to areas around the hospital, according to council's infrastructure and environment director, Terry Demeo - extensive consultation showed people were asking for a card option. "The whole purpose of this change is to provide flexibility, lift the vitality of the CBD and hospital precinct, and that consultation was really clear (that) coins are a nuisance for many," he said. "Around the north-west of the city, we've heard some additional coin meters would be welcomed, so they'll be repositioned up into that location by the end of the week." City of Ballarat mayor Ben Taylor said the live data from the meters and app would help inform decisions about where meters should be placed. He encouraged people to try the system before making a comment. "Maybe we need to look at some of those positions, but with the benefit of the data, which is live, we can address that and look at how it's going, we can reposition or add new ones as need be," he said. The first hour of on-street parking is free each day in Ballarat's CBD as long as motorists put in their licence plate number into a meter, or activate the CellOPark app. The app, which is free to download but has premium options, will charge by the minute until it is stopped. On meters, more time can be paid for at any location after re-entering your licence plate. READ MORE Have you signed up to The Courier's variety of news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in Ballarat.

Ballarat parking plan: Hospital precinct meters switched on

New regime: A parking meter which accepts coin and cards in front of the hospital.

Parking meters across Ballarat are now fully activated, including around the bustling hospital precinct.

Ballarat Health Services chief executive Dale Fraser said the hospital had been working closely with the City of Ballarat during the consultation phase.

He said several changes from the initial plan had been welcomed, including adding more meters that accept coins - on council's map of parking meters, as of Monday evening, there are two coin and card meters on either side of Drummond Street in front of BHS and St John of God, with others on Mair Street closer to Ascot Street, and on either side of Sturt Street.

"I would encourage them to continue that sort of listening and resolve issues as they arrive," Mr Fraser said.

"The average person here, the first priority here is not finding a car park.

"That's a challenge we're continuing to raise back with council, and I'm confident that they, through those processes, will take on-board that feedback and we'll see more changes over time."

BHS chief executive Dale Fraser

BHS management was also listening to concerns from staff, he added, who may be parking further away from the hospital.

"We've put a number of things into place - during the mid-part of the day, we artificially block off a number of places in our car park out the back here to cater for late-shift staff, so they have close access to the car park, and staff can request security escorts to their cars" he said - there will also be more car parks as part of the hospital's $461 million upgrade.

"One would hope, with the (parking meter) revenue (council) is raising, it'll go back into infrastructure like footpaths and lighting, more amenity," he said.

Among the changes on their way will be more meters that accept coin, following council's decision to make the Eastwood Street car park free for two hours.

The five meters installed there will be moved to areas around the hospital, according to council's infrastructure and environment director, Terry Demeo - extensive consultation showed people were asking for a card option.

"The whole purpose of this change is to provide flexibility, lift the vitality of the CBD and hospital precinct, and that consultation was really clear (that) coins are a nuisance for many," he said.

"Around the north-west of the city, we've heard some additional coin meters would be welcomed, so they'll be repositioned up into that location by the end of the week."

City of Ballarat mayor Ben Taylor said the live data from the meters and app would help inform decisions about where meters should be placed.

He encouraged people to try the system before making a comment.

"Maybe we need to look at some of those positions, but with the benefit of the data, which is live, we can address that and look at how it's going, we can reposition or add new ones as need be," he said.

The first hour of on-street parking is free each day in Ballarat's CBD as long as motorists put in their licence plate number into a meter, or activate the CellOPark app.

The app, which is free to download but has premium options, will charge by the minute until it is stopped.

On meters, more time can be paid for at any location after re-entering your licence plate.